Silt accumulator



Dec. 7 1926. 1,609,633A

, t3. w. REHFELD 'SILT ACGUMULATOR Filed Junel 25A 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q61 J Il witness Dec. 7 19.26.y

G. W. REHFELD S ILT ACCUMULATOR Filed June 25. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

PATENTS) @EF1 CE ernaast:V WILLrAM BEHFELD, or nannaiiran. Kansas.'

SILT ACCUMULATOE.

Application ,inea June 25, 1925. 'seriai' NQ. 29,535.

This invention which may be termed a silt accumulator, is a device designed for use in silt bearing streams to check the flow of water and to prevent the banks of the streams from washing away.

Heretofore, devices of this character have always been made of angle iron bars. channel-iron bars, and other kinds of rigid or non-yieldable bars, so that the devices have always been applicable only to non-navigable streams and it has not been possible for them to be used in navigable streams because their rigid and non-yieldable formation has always caused damage to boats.

The present invention has been devised in order to provide a silt accumulator capastrips or lengths of cable together. For this ble of being used in navigable streams. The improved device is constructed in such a way that it will yield when struck by a boat without damaging the boat and will then spring back to normal position.

The invention is more particularly described with referenceV to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the device illustrated inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the manner in which the various strips of the device may be tied together;

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating one of the tie wires before it is bent around any of the strips of the device;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of either another embodiment of the invention or else the principal framework of the device shown in Fig. 1 with the bracing strips omitted;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing diagonal strips applied to one side of the device shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing a further form of construction.

As illustrated in the drawing, the device is in the form of a multi-sided skeleton frame composed of a plurality of yieldable strips which are tied together in crossed relation forming yieldable arms extending from the sides of the frame. The strips out of which the device is made may be made of any suitable material, but they are'preferably formed from lengths of spring steel or wire cable composed of spring steel.

The multi-sided skeleton frame above alluded to, composed of'yieldable strips or lengths of wire cable, may be formed as shown in Fig. 1 or as shown in Fig. or in many other ways. Referring first to Fig. 5, it will'be seen that the frame is composed of three strips or lengths of cable 1 arranged inthe form of a tripod, and alsoof three more strips or lengths of cable 2 connecting` the lower ends of the strips 1. At the points where the strips 1 and'Q cross one another, they are tied together; so that this particular frame has four triangular-shaped sides, each of which is boundedby three of the strips or lengths of cable.

Various means may beused for tying the purpose,4 tie wires 3 may be used. Initially these wires v3 may be U-shaped and after the strips or lengths of cable have been relatively arranged in crossed relation', they may be passed aro-und the adjacent strips or lengths as shown in Fig. 3.

The various strips are tied together in such a way that yieldable arms 4 will extend from the corners and sides of the frame. Then, it pieces of cable are used, the cable strands at the ends of the arms 4 are unraveled and bent backwardly as indicated by the numerals 5. These portions 5 form pads at the ends of the arms 4 to prevent damage to boats striking against them and also form claws to embed in the bed of a stream similar to the roots of a tree to anchor the device to the bed of a stream.

Where the device is large, additional strips or lengths of cable 6 may connect the strips or lengths 1 and 2 which bound each of the sides of the frame. In Fig. 6,three of the bracing strips 6 are shown applied to one of the sides of the frame, while in Fig. 1, three of the bracing strips 6 are shown applied to each of the four sides of the frame. Fig. 7 discloses nine of the strips 6 for each side of the device. Any desired number may be used. The ends of the strips 6 extend beyond the sides of the frame and form arms 7, and at the ends of these arms, if cable is used, the cable may be miraveled and bent backwardly as at 8 to form the pads and claws correspondingto the pads and claws 5 formed at the ends of the arms 4.

In making use of the invention, a Vnumber ofthe skeleton frames are arranged in a line along the bank of a silt bearing stream,

`striking `against vthe same.

or arranged in a line extending from the done Within the meaning and scope of the bankof a stream out into the stream. ',lfhe frames, being constructed the same on all sides, may be set up upon the bed of the stream on any side, and the arms at the base Will become embedded inthe 4bed of a stream and hold the device anchored to the bed of a stream. The other arms and claws will catch drift, and in that Waythe devices will not only prevent Washing away of the banks of thestream, but will.. actually build up such' banks.

lnasmuch as the @frame -is `composed of vieldable strips or lengths ofl exible materiaLand the ends loft-lie arms-4 are formed ri-nto-pads,the device may-be ,u sed: in navigable streams as j it` will not f damage boats Furthermore, :1n case any. partof the device should be temporal-ily deflected ont offshapeby drift i Wood or ,floating ice, or the like, it ,will immediatelyqspringback into its normalgshape `upon being disengaged by :such obstruction.

Fromthe foregoing xdescription taken in connection with thel accompanying drawing, the construction, use and advantages of the invention will be: 4readily understood, so that' further explanation is not necessary.

Variousfchanges in form, proportion, and

. in various of the details of construction may be made Without` E departing from thespirit Y, and; principleof the invention, `and Without sacricing any of the advantages thereof, so that itisto be Funderstoodthat, such may be appended claims.

I claim:

1.' A device of the class described comprisingav skeleton frame composed of a plurality of' strips and'havi'ng four triangular-shaped sides, each bounded by three of such strips, and other strips connecting and bracing the strips which bound each side of the frame all of said strips'having yieldable extremities projecting laterally beyond their longitudinal planes.

2. A kdevice of the class ldescribed comprisingaframe structure, arms projecting therefrom, and lateral claws projecting Ytrom and beyondthe longitudinal plane of the arms.

,3. A. device of the class described comprising a frame structure, ,and arms `formed of rwire `cable and projecting from said vframe structure, the cable strands at the ends of thearms being unraveled andI bent laterally to kprovide claws.

4. .A device lof the class described comprising a length of VWire cable having an unraveled end whose strands arebent laterally to provide claws.

5. A. silt` accumulator comprising crossed inter-connected yieldable .metal strips and vyeldable .claws arrangedtat the ends ofv and beyondthe longitudinal planes, of the strips. In ltestimony Vwhereof l have hereunto affixed. my, signature.

GEORGE, WILLIAMfREHFELD. 

